The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-15

sovereign in robes OF state, in full dress
for the opera, in walking ard in driving
costume, and always near. My first view
OF her was obtained some thirty years ago.
Never can fade from my memory the
splendor OF that vision. She, the peerless
Victoria, sat within the crystal walls of her
finest state carriage, cnwrupped in her
erminc and wearing her ROYAL crown. She
was then in the primo oi life, a bonny
woman OF thirly-cight, the mightiest Of
monarchs, the happiCSt Of mothers, the
most alicctionatc OF wives. Beside her
was installed the prince consort, n man
of peculiarly fine appearance, to whose re-
mNrkablo beauty Of features no portrait
cxtant does justice. The Queen was in
progress through the streets OF London,
driving in full state 10 open Parliament.
Loud were the cheers and count
less the cap-wavings rs ''the Queens
most excellent majesty was drawn through
the throng by the eight crcam-colored
horses, traditional with English monarchs
from time immemOrial. AS the lusty hur-
iahs rent the air, the Queen bowed right
and left, over joining to her Snlutation the
atGlblc hall smile, which remains Il win
ming characteristic of her fine, frank face.
II was observable this summer in the juhi-
lee procession, although il occasionally
then gave place 10 m expression OF anS-
icty. That the Queen fears the sort Of yio-
lencc which destroyed the life of the late
Car OF Russia *, ! believe, not denied by
those who are hOnorcd 10y her confidence.
All such apprehension was allaycd on the
last OCCASION in which | saw her majesty in
public, when she came in the midst Of u
circle of ladies and laid the foundation
stone OF a statue Of the prince Consort in
u lawn In the forest near Windsor castle.
Then il was that the full sweetness Of her
atiability was made apparent, a., moving
past the gathered groups, the venerable
Queen greeted with pleasant words and en-
glging smile the peeress and the peasant,
the conservative dame and the democratic
woman who pens these lines. Young she
has been and is now old, but let the pages
OF history bear record that, in youth and
in ycars, Victoria the great was ever aill-
bic. OLivE LOGAN.
London, Sept. 27, 1887.
VICTORIA \ ELIZABETH COMPARED.
Some sovereigns have been driven into
| exile and others secretly cOnspircd against,
hut owing To the admirable way in which
Victoria has fulfilled the difficult aud deli
cate requirements Of her august position,
she l. today far more popular than any Of
her predecessors. She i the fourth woman
who has reined over the dcslinies of this
nation, and what u marked contrast 10
other queens her like affords. Historians
have written in glowing terms of the glor-
i0us EliElbethan era; is il 10 bc compared
with what We are now beginning 10 speak
Of with pardonnblc pride ~ the Victorian
age? A glance at the characteristics OF thc
two queens will give us the key to what
has been accomplished under the rule oi
the gracious lady who sits on Englands
throne today. Soc Froudc's picture 81 the
lie and death of the learned, impCrious
Tudor Queen; headslropg, masculine and
capricious, with her frills, puff. padding
and paint; her cour M vast area
u intrigue and outside show;
her domestic lie q blank and
her heart consumed by a r%rstlcs'
passion which duty and ambition refused
10 convert into peaceful welded love.
Queen Elizabeth affords q striking CON
tmst 10 Queen Victoria, whose life has
been 80 pure and true that she las been
able to place before her people the inner,
most rcccsscs Of her heart. do not envy
the feelings OF any woman who can rcnd,
unmoycd, the family histories ~ frankly
conidcd to the nation, containing glimpses
Of every day cares, struggles and heart
aches, which make ruyul %pcrspnngcs and
middle class matrOns feel akin. Thes,
homcly narratives have riNctcd iopNcr tht
loyal symplihics Of all who have faith IN
what X good, and hold true allegiance "a
God and their country. We have out
lived the Kings and queens clad In putpl,
and gold. with thrones, crowns aud sccp
- nl.a.-.l.H L.. s.ul. a.. .a.ts
,lny appearance Oi our royal family IL
miliar 60 the humblcst in the land. Queer
Victoria i best recognized by her subject
in her widows weeds, with her SONS
daughters and grandchildren standing
around her. in plain frocks ard coats. We
, 10 her glory, DC IL said, she has restored I,
, royalty its old prestige, and oncc more sc
! cured for IL the affection which make
! patriotism hearty and constitutional gov
/, crnmcnt strong and stable.
Called 10y a sudden turn In the wheel O
! fortune 10 uso the sccpicr at an age whcl
most girls scarcely understood the rcspOn
sibiitics OF ordinary life, she NJ once en-
7 listed the loyalty of her people and Ia thi
! hour she has never lost u. The nation ~
carried her then IA one Who needed pro
. tccting sympathy, and we have come hacI
= 10 the same feeling in these days Of he
: loneliness and widowhood. On her no
ccssion she commanded the love OF he
= subjects; she retains II to this hour, an
u has won, In addition, their profound q
2 teen, owing 10 n combination Oi qualiuc
= rare In n rank, rlrcst Of all upon III
throne. When IL X said that her mnjc
8 ~ rules in the hearts Of her people th
q effect of her blnmclcxs life isindicntcd, an
English men and women have lost u
their highest characteristics had tic
been able 10 view with Indifference th
- touching and noble love which bound Il
q gcihcr the Queen and the prince c)nsoI
l. and was maintained IN lis integrity un'
the frosty figure Of death unrl
r eled the perfect fabric viii,
% love had woven during those happy M
10 ried years. Breaking through state "a
v mality and courtly etiquette Queen VI
3 toria told the people, through the column
10 81 the Times newspaper, that sho Won
Y, not shrink from any personal sncrili
II when the national good could be III
10 NOTED, but that tO ask her ~ undergone
y state ceremonies In addition io the mi
important duties which overwhelmed ]
~ with toll md anxiety was a. force her
run the risk Of disabling herself compile
". She said she had cndcavorcd 60
scicntiously 20 discharge every duty e.
n, nccted with public service in spite OF sh
I'd tered health aud happiness. "Niore th
he that" ahe pathetically added, "the Qut
n cannot do, and moro, the kindness a
~, good feeling Of her people will surely
exact II from Ter" Doubtless her maj
tvs retirement from society ontailcd &
tain disadvantages, but, ON ihcoiher hai
the lofty example Of faithful devotion
the living, aud conjugal consistency to